Sam LaRoque

Simeon Henry Jean LaRoque

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 190 lb.
• Debut July 30, 1888
• Final Game May 31, 1891
• Born February 26, 1863 in St. Mathias, QC CAN
• Died June 5, 1933 in Highland Park, MI USA

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Biographical Information

"Sammy LaRoque made the longest hit ever made on the New Britain grounds Aug. 4." - Sporting Life, August 12, 1885

"Lancaster has signed an excellent second baseman in Sam LaRoque." - Sporting Life, January 9, 1897

One of the first players born in Quebec, Sam LaRoque played for the Newburyport Clamdiggers and the Lynn Lions of the New England League in 1886, leading the league with hits at 134. In 1888 he went on to play with the National League's Detroit Wolverines, playing alongside Dan Brouthers but only appearing in two games.

In 1890 he played for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys and played 111 games alongside Billy Sunday. He was second in the league in hit by pitch with twelve. In his final year of major league play, 1891, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Louisville Colonels. Playing alongside Connie Mack with the Pirates, he appeared in only eleven games.

In 1904 he was managing the Savannah Pathfinders of the South Atlantic League where they had a 63-48 record and finished second. In 1906 he managed the Beaumont Oilers of the South Texas League to a 72-50 record and second place, 6 1/2 games out of first. He held a batting average of .313 with the team as manager.

"Sam LaRoque, who is a fireman during the off season in Birmingham, got two hours in jail Monday for speaking 'acidly' to Judge Feagin of the Criminal Court. Sam was before his honor for making a noise in the alley adjacent to the court room. LaRoque was at the time doing work for the fire department. The Judge was going to let him off with a reprimand for disturbing the Court, when LaRoque, turning on his heel, said 'Good Morning, Judge', whereupon he got his sentence." - Sporting Life, February 8, 1903